System, Method, and Apparatus for Dispensing and Monitoring Pharmacy Shipments

Abstract

Provided is a computer-implemented method for predictively monitoring a shipment of at least one medication order from a first location to a destination location. The method includes receiving a medication order including medication order data identifying at least one medication for a patient, determining predicted environmental conditions for the shipment of the at least one medication from the first location to the destination location based at least partially on the medication order data, determining an optimized packing configuration of at least one of a cooling pack and insulating material for the at least one medication order based at least partially on the predicted environmental conditions, and generating a visual representation of the optimized packing configuration on a display device. A system and computer-program product are also disclosed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for predictively monitoring a shipment of at least one medication order from a first location to a destination location, comprising:
 receiving a medication order comprising medication order data identifying at least one medication for a patient;   determining, with at least one processor, predicted environmental conditions for the shipment of the at least one medication from the first location to the destination location based at least partially on the medication order data;   determining, with at least one processor, an optimized packing configuration of at least one of a cooling pack and insulating material for the at least one medication order based at least partially on the predicted environmental conditions; and   generating a visual representation of the optimized packing configuration on a display device.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 collecting environmental condition data during shipment of the at least one medication from the first location to the destination location; and   determining whether the shipment of the at least one medication complies with predetermined transportation conditions by comparing the collected environmental condition data to the predetermined transportation conditions.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the predicted environmental conditions are determined based at least partially on at least one of the following: a thermodynamic property of a packaging material, a geographical coordinate, an environmental condition, a shipping route, a mode of transportation, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the predicted environmental conditions are determined based at least partially on at least one thermodynamic property of a packaging material. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the predicted environmental conditions are determined based at least partially on a predictive algorithm, and wherein the predictive algorithm is modified based on the collected environmental condition data. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising generating an alert in response to determining that the shipment of the at least one medication complies or does not comply with the predetermined transportation conditions. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , further comprising transmitting the alert to at least one of the following: the patient, a caregiver, a pharmacy, a physician, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the optimized packing configuration is determined based at least partially on an optimized packing algorithm, and wherein the optimized packing algorithm is modified and/or influenced based on the collected environmental condition data. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating, with at least one processor, a unique identifier for the medication order;   storing or embedding the unique identifier in at least one data source that is affixed to a package including the medication order; and   linking, in at least one database, the unique identifier to at least a portion of the medication order.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , further comprising tracking the package during shipment from the first location to the destination location by periodically scanning or reading the at least one data source to retrieve the unique identifier and transmitting, to at least one remote server, shipment data and the unique identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the medication order data further comprises at least one of a lot number and an expiration date, the method further comprising:
 determining if the shipment should be recalled during shipment based at least partially on the at least one of the lot number and the expiration date;   generating an alert in response to determining that the shipment should be recalled; and   transmitting the alert to at least one of the following: the patient, a caregiver, a pharmacy, a physician, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 collecting shipment data during shipment of the at least one medication from the first location to the destination location; and   after the at least one medication has been delivered to the destination location, determining whether the shipment of the at least one medication complies with manufacturer data associated with the at least one medication.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating correlated temperature data based on past shipment data and historical environmental data, the correlated temperature data comprising correlations between ambient outdoor temperature measurements associated with past shipments and historical environmental conditions in at least one shipping lane, wherein the predicted environmental conditions are determined based at least partially on the correlated temperature data. 
     
     
         14 . A system for predictively monitoring a shipment of at least one medication order from a first location to a destination location, comprising at least one computer including at least one processor, the at least one computer programmed or configured to:
 receive a medication order comprising medication order data identifying at least one medication for a patient;   determine predicted environmental conditions for the shipment of the at least one medication from the first location to the destination location based at least partially on the medication order data;   determine an optimized packing configuration of at least one of a cooling pack and insulating material for the at least one medication order based at least partially on the predicted environmental conditions; and   generate a visual representation of the optimized packing configuration on a display device.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one computer is further programmed or configured to:
 collect environmental condition data during shipment of the at least one medication from the first location to the destination location; and   determine whether the shipment of the at least one medication complies with predetermined transportation conditions by comparing the collected environmental condition data to the predetermined transportation conditions.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the predicted environmental conditions are determined based at least partially on at least one of the following: a thermodynamic property of a packaging material, a geographical coordinate, an environmental condition, a shipping route, a mode of transportation, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the predicted environmental conditions are determined based at least partially on at least one thermodynamic property of a packaging material. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the predicted environmental conditions are determined based at least partially on a predictive algorithm, and wherein the predictive algorithm is modified based on the collected environmental condition data. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one computer is further programmed or configured to generate an alert in response to determining that the shipment of the at least one medication complies or does not comply with the predetermined transportation conditions. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one computer is further programmed or configured to transmit the alert to at least one of the following: the patient, a caregiver, a pharmacy, a physician, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the optimized packing configuration is determined based at least partially on an optimized packing algorithm, and wherein the optimized packing algorithm is modified and/or influenced based on the collected environmental condition data. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one computer is further programmed or configured to:
 generate a unique identifier for the medication order;   store or embed the unique identifier in at least one data source that is affixed to a package including the medication order; and   link, in at least one database, the unique identifier to at least a portion of the medication order.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one computer is further programmed or configured to track the package during shipment from the first location to the destination location by periodically scanning or reading the at least one data source to retrieve the unique identifier and transmitting, to at least one remote server, shipment data and the unique identifier. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the medication order data further comprises at least one of a lot number and an expiration date, and wherein the at least one computer is further programmed or configured to:
 determine if the shipment should be recalled during shipment based at least partially on the at least one of the lot number and the expiration date;   generate an alert in response to determining that the shipment should be recalled; and   transmit the alert to at least one of the following: the patient, a caregiver, a pharmacy, a physician, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one computer is further programmed or configured to:
 collect shipment data during shipment of the at least one medication from the first location to the destination location; and   after the at least one medication has been delivered to the destination location, determine whether the shipment of the at least one medication complies with manufacturer data associated with the at least one medication.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one computer is further programmed or configured to generate correlated temperature data based on past shipment data and historical environmental data, the correlated temperature data comprising correlations between ambient outdoor temperature measurements associated with past shipments and historical environmental conditions in at least one shipping lane, wherein the predicted environmental conditions are determined based at least partially on the correlated temperature data. 
     
     
         27 . A computer program product for predictively monitoring a shipment of at least one medication order from a first location to a destination location, comprising at least one computer-readable medium including program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of at least one computer, cause the at least one computer to:
 receive a medication order comprising medication order data identifying at least one medication for a patient;   determine predicted environmental conditions for the shipment of the at least one medication from the first location to the destination location based at least partially on the medication order data;   determine an optimized packing configuration of at least one of a cooling pack and insulating material for the at least one medication order based at least partially on the predicted environmental conditions; and   generate a visual representation of the optimized packing configuration on a display device.